The Shadow-bound Queen

Alea’s POV:

“Just one more night and then I will be out of here.” I whispered to myself holding the tray so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

"Remember what we’ve done to get you here. The title of Luna only belongs to my daughter, don’t let anyone get in your way." Lady Kaelith had her hand on Cassia’s shoulder as she whispered to her.

I wasn’t supposed to hear that.

But I did.

“I won’t, mother!” She had a smug look on her face as her eyes went towards the throne which belonged to the Alpha and the future Luna of this pack.

I always wanted to feel the love of my mother and always wondered why Kalieth didn't care for me the way she did for Cassia.

But when I was 18, I got to know that I am not their child…

My father adopted me when I was a child just to get my bone marrow transplanted to their sick daughter.

And after the job was done they threw me away like I was nothing.

“And once you are the Luna, we will finally get rid of this useless thing, your father dumped on me. It’s time she disappeared, otherwise who knows when she would open her mouth.”

My hands trembled as I heard their conversation.

Crash!

The tray from my hands slipped and sharp pieces of glasses flew. Instinctively I took some steps back.

I was just about to bend down.

Thud!

“Bitch! How dare you!” Cassia’s sharp voice boomed around the hall.

Everyone standing in that hall turned towards me and looked at me with disgust.

Of course! Why would those elite people feel pity towards a maid like me?

"Every time," she gritted her teeth as she further continued saying, "You just don’t waste an opportunity to seek attention, right?

I kept quiet.

My wolf, Nyra, gritted her teeth like she wanted to rip off the girl standing in front of me.

Cassia took some steps towards me so that she was just mere inches away from my face, "Tonight, I will become the Queen and if anyone dares to mess with it, I would just kill them,"

I wanted to reply to her.

That I would be free soon.

I won’t tolerate their torture anymore.

But before I could say anything, a loud howl echoed around the hall.

Everyone stepped back and bowed their heads with respect that included Cassia too.

I stood frozen.

He was here.

The Alpha King.

Alpha Kairo.

Turning around, my eyes fell on the man who had entered the hall.

His whole aura was screaming danger.

Mate!

Nyra screamed.

My eyes widened with shock.

What?

Not now, please!

Mate! Mate! He is our mate!

She continued screaming as the man continued to move inside.

Many of his subordinates were surrounding him and they all were giving dangerous vibes.

The kind of guys you really don’t want to mess with.

All the unmated girls in that hall looked at him like he was some kind of meat as he walked past all of them.

Some weird feelings started to erupt inside me which I hadn’t felt all my life.

Soon he was near me. His scent hit my nostrils and Nyra screamed again, like she wanted to take that man right there on that floor.

Tilting his head slightly, his eyes fell on me.

Our eyes met.

His eyes… damn.

Were they grey or blue?

He blinked. I felt his expression change slightly but he was quick to mask it.

Then he looked away and growled under his breath.

He felt it.

He knew.

But he ignored it.

He kept walking. Like he hadn’t just felt the bond between us.

And then… He brushed past me.

My hands slightly touched his wrist and my body ignited.

But not only mine, his body shook too.

He paused.

“Mine!” I heard his wolf screaming with anger.

He again continued to walk and didn’t look back.

But his wolf did.

It snarled so loud now that the alphas which were standing nearby got alert like something was going to happen.

Some guards tightened their hold on their weapons.

He was soon on the throne in front of all and as soon as he sat on his throne all the wolves started to howl and cheer for their alpha.

His one hand was on his thigh and one hand rested on the sidearm of the throne, leisurely.

Once again his eyes were on me.

Clenching his jaw, he glared at me before he snapped his fingers at the guards standing beside him.

“Grab her,” he ordered.

What?

I didn’t even have the time to blink when those guards were already in front of me.

Both of them grabbed my arms roughly.

“Leave me.”

Before I could even protest they threw me at the centre of the hall.

I landed on the ground with my knees scratched.

I looked up and everyone’s eyes were on me.

Some of them gasped while the others were busy laughing and mocking me.

I looked towards him, who gave me a disgusted look.

While Nyra continued to nudge me.

Say it.

Say it.

Say it.

So I did.

“I’m your mate.”

Three words.

Everyone stopped at that moment.

Cassia’s lips parted as her eyes went wide for the first time.

Kairo froze as he looked down towards his arm.

The Mate Mark.

It was waking.

He knew.

But he still ignored it,

“She is not my mate.” His voice boomed around the hall,

All the people around me were now laughing at me. A few shook their heads in disgust.

I broke at that moment.

I felt humiliated.

But there was still a hope inside me, and I chose to try my luck once more.

“I am the Alpha’s mate.”

Kairo’s voice was rough this time, “I don’t know what game you’re playing, girl. But don’t play with fire.”

“Liar,” I whispered.

His jaw clenched.

Cassia stepped forward from the crowd and once again her hand was on my cheek.

Thud!

She slapped me once again.

“Looks like someone’s gotten a little too courageous, impersonating herself as the Alpha’s mate, do you have a death wish girl?” Casia gave me a glare, telling me to stop.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t deny her.

Didn’t defend me.

“I felt it,” I said, louder now. “You did too. You felt the bond.”

Lucien didn’t answer.

Just turned.

And walked away.

He didn’t look back.

But his hand?

His hand dripped red.

The Mate Mark was burning through.

His wolf was losing it.

The doors slammed behind him while I stayed kneeling

in the center of that hall.

Trembling.

Marked.

Rejected.

But the worst part?

Nyra was still whispering one word.

Mate.